EURO 2016: GROUP E
Republic Of Ireland 0
Belgium 3
By Daire Walsh
It was day to forget for the Republic Of Ireland in Stade de Bordeaux on Saturday afternoon, as a powerful second-half goal blitz helped Belgium to claim all three points in a Euro 2016 Group E clash.
The nature of this defeat means that the Irish (playing in the third European Championships) are rooted to the bottom of the table heading into their final game in Lille on Wednesday against Italy – who have already ensured their progression to the knockout stages – and they will more than likely need a win if they are to make the last-16 of the competition.
Republic boss Martin O’Neill was dealt a blow in the build-up to this game when qualification hero Jonathan Walters was ruled out because of a persistent achilles injury – which flared up during the 1-1 draw with Sweden in Paris five days ago.
The versatile Stoke City star sat out training in Bordeaux on Friday, and as a result, there was a significant alteration to the Irish team for their pivotal second game of the tournament. O’Neill did keep faith with 10 of the side that started against the Swedes, but there was a series of positional switches in the starting line-up.
Stephen Ward (who enjoyed a productive end to the 2015/16 campaign with English Championship winners Burnley) returned to the fold in his favoured left-back position, and this meant that Robbie Brady was transferred to the left-wing.
Jeff Hendrick impressed in a roving role from this flank in the Swedish game, but with Glenn Whelan and James McCarthy continuing their long-standing central midfield partnership, he played in front of firmly-established right-back, Seamus Coleman, on this occasion.
Belgium were aiming to bounce back from their disappointing opening game defeat to Italy, and while English Premier League stars Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku kept their places in the starting eleven, Atletico Madrid’s Yannick Ferreira Carrasco (who scored for his club side in their UEFA Champions League defeat to rivals Real Madrid) replaced Manchester United’s Marouane Fellaini.
Belgian coach Marc Wilmots was hoping that this move would offer a more balanced look to his side’s attack, and with Mousa Dembele taking over from Radja Nainggolan in central midfield, he was also aiming to stifle Ireland in the final-third of the pitch.
The decision to select Manchester City’s De Bruyne in a central attacking role was certainly a major plus for Belgium, but it was the lively Carrasco who forced Irish netminder Darren Randolph into action with just five minutes gone on the clock.
The winger’s cross/shot was comfortably gathered by the Wicklow native after Brady had underhit a pass towards Ward, but with Ireland sitting extremely deep throughout the opening period, Belgium dominated the possession stakes.
Whelan cleared behind for a Belgian corner on 13 minutes, and from De Bruyne’s enticing delivery on the left-wing, Toby Alderweireld – one of three Tottenham Hotspur players in Wilmots’ side – headed past the far post.
Another dangerous De Bruyne set-piece kept the Irish defence on their toes just four minutes later, but despite struggling to get Wes Hoolohan and Shane Long involved in the play, Ward did see his header from a Brady corner deflected onto the roof of the net.
It was Belgium who continued to create the greater openings, however, and Hazard should have broken the deadlock in the 21st-minute, when he fired over from close-range after a defensive header by Irish skipper John O’Shea fell into his path.
A heavy touch by Hoolahan prevented Hendrick from carving a clear-cut opening at the end of the first-quarter, but the Irish fans breathed a sigh relief when Carrasco’s 24th-minute rebound was ruled out for offside.
Randolph had produced a sublime stop from Carrasco’s original effort, but he had arrived in the penalty area a fraction early. De Bruyne provided a persistent threat to the Irish rearguard, and his low strike prior to the half-hour mark was smothered by Randolph.
Irish centre-half Ciaran Clark was off-target from a Brady free-kick, but when you consider how much of the ball Belgium saw throughout the half (they secured 64% of the possession), there was definitely a sense that Ireland would be happy if the side’s remained scoreless at the mid-way point.
Hoolohan (who scored Ireland’s fourth-ever goal at a European Championship finals against Sweden) was on hand to clear an Alderweireld header off the line just minutes before the interval, and although Jeff Hendrick was yellow-carded for kicking a second ball off the pitch, the sides remained on level terms moving into the second period.
Yet, whereas it was Ireland who finally made their pressure count against Sweden on Monday, it was the turn of Belgium to gain a one-goal cushion just three minutes after the restart. There was an element of controversy about the game’s opener, as it initially looked like Shane Long had been caught by the combined high feet of Alderweireld and former Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen, but once Belgium broke from defence, they displayed the clinical edge that has helped them to climb up the world rankings in recent years.
De Bruyne showcased his tremendous pace on the right-hand side, and after McCarthy failed to make a convincing tackle on the ex-Chelsea prodigy, the ball was played to the feet of Lukaku – who coolly fired beyond the reach of Randolph from the edge of the box with his left-foot.
This was throwing down the gauntlet to the Republic, who had started the day in second place in Group E – just ahead of Sweden on goal difference. The loss of Dembele to injury in the 57th minute was a potential lift for Ireland, but even though Hoolahan’s influence was beginning to grow, Belgium doubled their lead just past the hour mark.
Meunier was offered acres of space in which to deliver a cross from the right, and despite getting a hand to Axel Witsel’s header, Randolph was picking the ball out of his net for a second time in Bordeaux.
Almost immediately, James McClean was introduced to the fray in place of McCarthy, and this meant that Robbie Brady was given a central role alongside Whelan. McClean was tasked with giving Ireland energy on the left-wing, but he was dispossessed towards the byline in the lead-up to Belgium’s third goal.
On the stroke of 70 minutes, the rejuvenated Hazard broke free on the right (which was a danger zone for Ireland throughout the course of the game), and he picked out the unmarked Lukaku, who slid home his 14th international goal in composed fashion.
Aiden McGeady and Robbie Keane made their entrance in the final-quarter (for Hoolahan and Long respectively) in attempt to gain some form of solace for Ireland, but it Belgium who controlled the tempo of the play in the latter stages.
Two-goal hero Lukaku made way for Liverpool’s Christian Benteke eight minutes from the end of normal time, and Randolph turned away another De Bruyne effort on goal. The Irish fans remained in fine spirits throughout (and the Belgian supporters also made their voices heard in an exceptional atmosphere), but while all is not lost for the Republic of Ireland at Euro 2016, the level of their performance will need to improve substantially for their final group game.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Darren Randolph; Seamus Coleman, John O’Shea, Ciaran Clark, Stephen Ward; Jeff Hendrick, Glenn Whelan, James McCarthy, Robbie Brady; Wes Hoolahan; Shane Long.
Subs: James McClean for McCarthy (62), Aiden McGeady for Hoolahan (71), Robbie Keane for Long (78).
BELGIUM: Thibaut Courtois; Thomas Meunier, Toby Alderweireld, Thomas Vermaelen, Jan Vertonghen; Axel Witsel, Mousa Dembélé; Yannick Ferreira Carrasco, Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard; Romelu Lukaku.
Subs: Radja Nainggolan for Dembele (57), Dries Mertens for Carasco (64), Christian Benteke for Lukaku (82).
Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey).